Arabic Fluency Roadmap
1 Arabic Fluency Roadmap: A Structured Guide to B2 in 8 Months
(c) 2025 Liban Hussein
Ahlan! This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the topics and vocabulary you’ll master to reach B2 proficiency—enabling fluency in complex discussions, media analysis, and professional contexts.
I remember the first time I tried to speak Arabic outside the mosque- my mind went completely blank. I could recite and undestand Qur’an, but asking friends about a sports match they watched or discussing events in Arabic? Total disaster. For years, I’ve been stuck in this weird middle ground - classical texts make sense, but casual conversations felt impossible to engage in. It’s frustrating when your brain knows the language but your mouth refuses to cooperate.
Here’s the truth I’ve learned: Understanding Arabic and speaking it fluently are two completely different skills. And I’ve neglected the speaking part for too long. This guide is my public commitment to change that. No more hiding behind passive understanding. No more avoiding conversations. By December ’s end, 2025, insha’Allah:
My goals are to:
- Speak spontaneously without mental translation
- Conjugate verbs correctly in real-time conversations
- Discuss complex topics beyond just religion
- Translate short classical texts, including works and poems by Imām al-Shāfiʿī [Diwan al-Shāfiʿī]
- Recite and understand portions of the Qur’an, ḥadīth, and duʿāʾ with insight into their grammar and rhetorical style
- Write short essays and reflections in Arabic on Islamic and cultural topics
- Participate in discussions and lessons conducted fully in Arabic
- Finally feel confident calling myself fluent — as a student of the language of the Qur’an
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about bridging the gap between what I understand and what I can express. That’s the mission of the Lisan Project.
What’s Inside the Lisan Project Roadmap:
- Grammar Foundations
- Verb conjugations (past/present/command), noun gender/plural rules, sentence structures.
- Core Vocabulary by Theme
- Daily life (family, work, travel), Islamic terms, media Arabic, and academic phrases.
- Key Skills per Level
- A1-A2: Basic dialogues, introductions, and high-frequency verbs.
- B1-B2: Complex sentences, opinions, and cultural nuances.
- C1 Mastery: Critiquing texts, understanding dialects in media, and formal writing.
- Thematic Chapters
- Household items, professions, health, holidays, etc.—each with targeted word lists.
“العلم لا يُعطِيكَ بعضَهُ حتّى تُعطِيَهُ كلَّك، فإذا أعطَيتَهُ كلَّك، أعطاكَ بعضَهُ”
“Knowledge will not give you part of itself until you give it all of yourself. And when you give it all of yourself, it will still only give you part of itself.”
2 Introduction
This document is a comprehensive companion to an 8-month Arabic language learning journey based on the textbook At-Takallum: A Comprehensive Modern Arabic Course.
It serves as a central hub for:
- Detailed study notes
- Thematic and contextual vocabulary lists
- Practice exercises for grammar, reading, writing, listening, and speaking
- Supplementary resources for cultural and religious enrichment
- Tracking overall progression across all learning levels
The learning journey is divided into three stages, each aligned with a CEFR proficiency level and structured around thematic chapters designed to gradually build language skills in context.
2.1 Elementary Level (A1 Proficiency)
The Elementary Book consists of 8 foundational chapters focused on everyday communication and basic vocabulary:
- Greetings and Introductions
- Family and Relationships
- School and Studies
- Food and Eating Habits
- Telling Time and Discussing Prices
- Holidays and Vacations
- Daily Routines and Activities
- Weather and Clothing
2.2 Pre-Intermediate Level (B1 Proficiency)
The Pre-Intermediate Book continues with more complex sentence structures and a wider vocabulary, divided into the following 8 thematic units:
- Exploring Cairo and Transportation
- Housing and Daily Living
- Health and Well-being
- Shopping and Markets
- Jobs and the Workplace
- Tourist Attractions and Historical Sites
- Sports and Hobbies
- Past Memories and Storytelling
2.3 Intermediate Level (B2 Proficiency)
The Intermediate Book builds toward fluency, focusing on abstract topics and culturally rich discussions:
- Describing People and Character Traits
- Religious Celebrations and Eid Traditions
- Humor and Storytelling
- Nature and Environmental Issues
- World Cultures and Social Traditions
- Arabic Proverbs, Sayings, and Wisdom
- Famous Historical Figures
- The Role of Education and Learning
2.3.1 Materials and Resources
- Supplementary notes, vocabulary decks, and grammar exercises
- Cultural and religious content to enrich learning context
- Translation practice using classical texts
This document will evolve over time to reflect ongoing progress, feedback, and new materials. Contributions and suggestions are welcome.
3 التَّعَارُف – Introducing Yourself
Making a great first impression starts with the basics: greetings, names, nationalities, and simple questions. This unit introduces essential vocabulary and expressions for everyday social interactions — from saying hello to telling someone where you’re from.
Use the table below to familiarize yourself with the most common phrases used in first encounters.
Here’s a helpful video that provides some pretty solid techniques for memorizing new vocabulary:
7 Insanely Effective Techniques to Memorize Vocabulary in a New Language
3.1 Key Vocabulary and Phrases
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Peace be upon you! | السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ |
| And peace be upon you! | وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُ |
| Good morning! | صَبَاحُ الْخَيْرِ / صَبَاحُ النُّورِ |
| How are you? | كَيْفَ حَالُكَ؟ / كَيْفَ الْحَالُ؟ |
| Fine, al-Hamdulillah | بِخَيْر / بِخَيْر وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰه |
| Welcome! | أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا / مَرْحَبًا |
| Welcome to you | أَهْلًا بِكَ / مَرْحَبًا بِكَ |
| What is your name? | مَا اسْمُكَ؟ |
| My name is … | اِسْمِي … |
| Where are you from? | مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتَ؟ |
| I am Egyptian | أَنَا مِصْرِيٌّ |
| I am from Egypt | أَنَا مِنْ مِصْرَ |
| Good evening! | مَسَاءُ الْخَيْرِ / مَسَاءُ النُّورِ |
| Nice to meet you | تَشَرَّفْنَا / فُرْصَة طَيِّبَة / سَعِيدَة |
| Goodbye / Farewell | فِي أَمَانِ اللّٰه / مَعَ السَّلَامَة / إِلَى اللِّقَاءِ |
| Job / Profession / Work | وَظِيفَة / مِهْنَة / عَمَل |
| Student | طَالِب / تِلْمِيذ |
| Teacher | مُعَلِّم / مُدَرِّس / أُسْتَاذ |
| Translator | مُتَرْجِم |
| Worker / Laborer | عَامِل |
| Friend / Colleague | صَدِيقَة / زَمِيلَة |
| Carpenter | نَجَّار |
| Retired | مُتَقَاعِد |
| Journalist | صَحَفِيّ |
| Accountant | مُحَاسِب |
| Mobile phone | هَاتِف مَحْمُول |
| Landline phone | هَاتِف ثَابِت / أَرْضِي |
| بَرِيد إِلِكْتِرُونِي | |
| Address | عُنْوَان |
| Unemployed | عَاطِل |
| He works | يَعْمَلُ |
Try translating the following English phrases into Arabic using only the vocabulary from Chapter 1.
- “My name is … and I am from …”
- “What is your name [masculine/feminine]?”
- “I am Egyptian.”
- “I am from Egypt.”
- “Where are you from?”
- “What is your profession?”
- “I am a teacher.”
- “I am fine, thanks.”
- “Good morning!”
- “Goodbye! See you later!”
3.2 Singular Pronouns
In Arabic, personal pronouns change depending on gender and number. Here are the singular pronouns:
| English | Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I | أَنَا | anā |
| You (masc.) | أَنْتَ | anta |
| You (fem.) | أَنْتِ | anti |
| He | هُوَ | huwa |
| She | هِيَ | hiya |
To express possession (like my book, your phone, his teacher), Arabic uses suffixes attached to the end of the noun. Here are the common possessive endings for singular pronouns:
- ي (ـي) for أَنَا → كِتَابِي (my book)
- كَ (ـكَ) for أَنْتَ → كِتَابُكَ (your book, masc.)
- كِ (ـكِ) for أَنْتِ → كِتَابُكِ (your book, fem.)
- هُ (ـهُ) for هُوَ → كِتَابُهُ (his book)
- هَا (ـهَا) for هِيَ → كِتَابُهَا (her book)
These suffixes are directly attached to nouns to show ownership.
3.3 Nationalities
Nationalities in Arabic are based on the name of the country and are modified by adding masculine or feminine endings. These follow regular patterns and are important for introducing yourself or describing others.
| Country | Root (Base Word) | Nationality (Masc. / Fem.) |
|---|---|---|
| Egypt | مِصْر | مِصْرِيّ / مِصْرِيَّة |
| Somalia | الصُّومَال | صُومَالِيّ / صُومَالِيَّة |
| America | أَمْرِيكَا | أَمْرِيكِيّ / أَمْرِيكِيَّة |
3.3.1 Examples:
- أَنَا مِصْرِيّ – I am Egyptian (male)
- أَنَا مِصْرِيَّة – I am Egyptian (female)
- هُوَ صُومَالِيّ – He is Somali
- هِيَ أَمْرِيكِيَّة – She is American
Note: The masculine form usually ends in ـِيّ, and the feminine form ends in ـِيَّة.
3.3.2 Practice Questions
Try answering the following using the correct nationality form:
- مَا جِنْسِيَّتُكَ؟ (What is your nationality? — to a male)
- مَا جِنْسِيَّتُكِ؟ (What is your nationality? — to a female)
- Translate:
- I am American (female)
- He is Egyptian
- She is Somali
- I am American (female)
3.4 Practice: A Conversation Between Two Friends
Friend 1: Hello!
Friend 2: Hello and welcome!
Friend 1: How are you?
Friend 2: I’m fine, thank God. And you?
Friend 1: I’m fine. What is your name?
Friend 2: My name is Ahmed. What is your name?
Friend 1: My name is Sarah. Where are you from?
Friend 2: I am from Egypt. And you?
Friend 1: I am from America. What is your job?
Friend 2: I am a teacher. And you?
Friend 1: I am a student. What is your address?
Friend 2: My address is 12 Cairo Street. What is your address?
Friend 1: My address is 8 Nile Avenue. What is your phone number?
Friend 2: My mobile number is 010-1234-5678. What is your number?
Friend 1: My phone number is 011-9876-5432. What is your email?
Friend 2: My email is ahmed@gmail.com. And yours?
Friend 1: My email is sarah@email.com.
Friend 2: Nice to meet you!
Friend 1: Nice to meet you too!
3.5 The Present Simple Tense With Singular Pronouns
In Arabic, verbs in the present tense are based on three-letter roots. Let’s start with the verb عَمِلَ (to work) and see how it changes with singular pronouns in the present tense.
| Pronoun | Present Tense Verb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| I | أَعْمَلُ | أَنَا أَعْمَلُ مُتَرْجِمًا – I work as a translator |
| You (m) | تَعْمَلُ | أَنْتَ تَعْمَلُ مُتَرْجِمًا – You (m) work as a translator |
| You (f) | تَعْمَلِينَ | أَنْتِ تَعْمَلِينَ مُتَرْجِمَةً – You (f) work as a translator |
| He | يَعْمَلُ | هُوَ يَعْمَلُ مُتَرْجِمًا – He works as a translator |
| She | تَعْمَلُ | هِيَ تَعْمَلُ مُتَرْجِمَةً – She works as a translator |
Note: Feminine job titles and pronouns require feminine verb forms and endings, like ـينَ and ـة.
3.5.1 Practice with These Root Verbs:
| Verb Root | Meaning | Present Tense (He) |
|---|---|---|
| عَمِلَ | to work | يَعْمَلُ |
| كَتَبَ | to write | يَكْتُبُ |
| قَرَأَ | to read | يَقْرَأُ |
| نَظَرَ | to look | يَنْظُرُ |
| فَهِمَ | to understand | يَفْهَمُ |
3.5.2 Practice Prompts:
Try writing these for each singular pronoun (أنا، أنتَ، أنتِ، هو، هي):
- “___ writes an email.”
- “___ reads the book.”
- “___ looks at the address.”
- “___ understands the lesson.”
- “___ works as a teacher.”
Mix masculine and feminine forms!
3.6 Quick Review Section
Before moving on, make sure you can:
“اللغة العربية هي من أغنى اللغات وأوسعها، وهي بحرٌ لا ساحل له.”
“The Arabic language is among the richest and most expansive languages; it is a sea without a shore.”
— Ibn Jinnī, famed linguist and grammarian
4 الْعَائِلَة – The Family
Family is the foundation of many conversations in Arabic. In this unit, you’ll learn how to introduce your family members, describe relationships, and talk about where people live and what they do.
4.1 Key Vocabulary and Phrases
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Family / Household | أُسْرَة / عَائِلَة |
| Grandfather | جَدّ |
| Grandmother | جَدَّة |
| Father / Parent | أَب / وَالِد |
| Mother / Parent | أُمّ / وَالِدَة |
| Brother | أَخ |
| Sister | أُخْت |
| Son / Daughter | اِبْن / اِبْنَة |
| Boy / Girl | وَلَد / بِنْت |
| Grandson / Granddaughter | حَفِيد / حَفِيدَة |
| Twin brother | أَخ تَوْأَم |
| Paternal uncle | عَمّ |
| Maternal uncle | خَال |
| Paternal aunt | عَمَّة |
| Maternal aunt | خَالَة |
| Husband / Wife | زَوْج / زَوْجَة |
| Relative / Kin | قَرِيب / أَقَارِب |
| Father-in-law / Mother-in-law | حَم / حَمَاة |
| Married | مُتَزَوِّج / مُتَزَوِّجَة |
| Fiancé / Fiancée | خَاطِب / مَخْطُوبَة |
| Bachelor (unmarried) | عَزَب |
| Miss / Young lady | آنِسَة |
| Surname / Title | لَقَب / أَلْقَاب |
4.2 Talking About Daily Life
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| He lives in… | يَسْكُنُ فِي… |
| She studies | تَدْرُس |
| He loves / likes | يُحِبُّ |
| He comments | يُعَلِّق |
| He receives / meets | يَسْتَقْبِل |
| He prepares / makes ready | يُرَتِّب |
| She cooks | تَطْبُخ |
| He sits / sits down | يَجْلِس |
4.3 Practice Phrases
Translate the following into Arabic using the vocabulary above:
- My mother and father live in Cairo.
- He is my maternal uncle.
- My sister is a student.
- She loves her grandmother.
- I am married.
- He is a bachelor.
- This is my wife and these are our children.
- Where does your grandfather live?
- She studies in the university.
- My aunt (paternal) cooks delicious food.
4.4 Special Occasions & Home Life
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Bride / Bridegroom | عَرُوس / عَرِيس |
| Food | طَعَام |
| Road / Street | طَرِيق |
| Decoration | زِينَة |
| Guests | ضُيُوف / ضَيْف |
| Salon / Reception Room | صَالُون |
| Furniture | أَثَاث |
4.5 Practice: Talking About Family
Ahmed: Hello! Who is this?
Fatimah: This is my father and mother.
Ahmed: What is your father’s name?
Fatimah: His name is Yusuf.
Ahmed: Does he work?
Fatimah: Yes, he works as a teacher.
Ahmed: And your mother?
Fatimah: She cooks and takes care of the house.
Ahmed: Do you have any siblings?
Fatimah: Yes, I have one brother and two sisters.
Ahmed: Where do you live?
Fatimah: We live in Tripoli.
4.6 Verb Practice With the Family Theme
Try conjugating and writing present-tense sentences using these verbs: يَسْكُن، يُحِب، يُرَتِّب، تَدْرُس، تَطْبُخ
| Pronoun | Example Verb + Family Context |
|---|---|
| أَنَا | أَنَا أُحِبُ جَدَّتِي – I love my grandmother |
| أَنْتَ | أَنْتَ تَسْكُنُ مَعَ أُسْرَتِكَ – You live with your family |
| أَنْتِ | أَنْتِ تَدْرُسِينَ فِي الْجَامِعَة – You (f) study at the university |
| هُوَ | هُوَ يُرَتِّبُ الْغُرْفَة – He arranges the room |
| هِيَ | هِيَ تَطْبُخُ الطَّعَام – She cooks the food |
5 الدِّرَاسَة – Studying
Education is a major part of life across cultures, and in Arabic, knowing how to talk about school, subjects, and study routines helps you connect and express yourself in academic and personal settings.
5.1 Key Vocabulary and Phrases
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Class, grade | صَفّ |
| Display screen | شَاشَةُ عَرْض |
| Eraser | مِمْحَاة |
| Wastebasket | سَلَّةُ مُهْمَلَات |
| School | مَدْرَسَة |
| Bookshelf | مَكْتَبَة |
| Dictionary | قَامُوس / مُعْجَم |
| Absent / Present | غَائِب × حَاضِر |
| Page | صَفْحَة |
| Behind / At the back | خَلْف / وَرَاء |
| Between | بَيْن |
| Beside | بِجَانِب |
| Under | تَحْت / أَسْفَل |
| To the right | عَنْ يَمِين |
| To the left | عَنْ يَسَار |
| University | جَامِعَة |
| Faculty | كُلِّيَّة |
| Good / Bad | جَيِّد × سَيِّئ |
| Arabic language | اللُّغَة العَرَبِيَّة |
| English language | اللُّغَة الإِنْجِلِيزِيَّة |
| Vacation / Holiday | عُطْلَة |
5.2 Verbs and Phrases for the Classroom
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| He studies | يَدْرُس |
| He thinks | يُفَكِّر |
| He guesses | يَظُنّ |
| He starts | يَبْدَأ |
| He finishes | يَنْتَهِي |
| He opens / He closes | يَفْتَح × يُغْلِق |
| Raise / Lower | اِرْفَع × اِخْفِض |
| Take / Here you go | خُذ / تَفَضَّل |
| Let me have | هَات |
| Lesson / Lecture | دَرْس / مُحَاضَرَة |
| Course / Subject | مَادَّة (ج) مَوَادّ |
| Idea / Opinion | فِكْرَة / رَأْي |
| Psychology | عِلْم النَّفْس |
| Jurisprudence | الْفِقْه |
| Qur’an explanation | التَّفْسِير |
| Hadith | الْحَدِيث |
| Recitation rules | التَّجْوِيد |
| History | التَّارِيخ |
| Geography | الْجُغْرَافْيَا |
5.3 Practice Phrases
Translate the following into Arabic using the vocabulary above:
- I study psychology and jurisprudence.
- The dictionary is beside the bookshelf.
- Open the book to page ten.
- She is present today.
- My course is very interesting.
- He finishes his lesson at two o’clock.
- The subject is difficult but useful.
- Where is the eraser?
- We are studying the Arabic language.
- The classroom is to the right.
5.4 Practice: In the Classroom
Zayd: Are you studying today?
Nour: Yes, I am studying history and psychology.
Zayd: Is the teacher present?
Nour: No, he is absent today.
Zayd: Where is your book?
Nour: It’s on the bookshelf, beside the dictionary.
Zayd: Do you like this course?
Nour: Yes, it’s good and interesting.
5.5 Verb Practice With the Studying Theme
| Pronoun | Example Verb + Classroom Context |
|---|---|
| أَنَا | أَنَا أَدْرُسُ التَّفْسِير – I study tafsīr |
| أَنْتَ | أَنْتَ تَفْتَحُ الكِتَاب – You open the book |
| أَنْتِ | أَنْتِ تَفْهَمِينَ الدَّرْس – You (f) understand the lesson |
| هُوَ | هُوَ يَبْدَأُ الدَّرْس – He starts the lesson |
| هِيَ | هِيَ تُفَكِّرُ فِي الْجَوَاب – She is thinking of the answer |
“أَخي لَنْ تَنَالَ الْعِلْمَ إِلَّا بِسِتَّةٍ
سَأُنْبِيكَ عَنْ تَفْصِيلِهَا بِبَيَانِ
ذَكَاءٍ، وَحِرْصٍ، وَاجْتِهَادٍ، وَبُلْغَةٍ
وَصُحْبَةِ أُسْتَاذٍ، وَطُولِ زَمَانِ”
“My brother, you will never attain knowledge except with six things.
I will tell you about them clearly:
intelligence, eagerness, effort, provision,
companionship of a teacher, and a long time.”
— Imām al-Shāfiʿī, on the path to knowledge
6 الطَّعَام – Food and Meals
In this chapter, we explore everything related to food and meals in Arabic — from ordering at a restaurant to naming common foods and drinks. You’ll also practice useful verbs and sentence structures for daily eating routines.
Need help remembering all this new vocabulary?
Check out this video:
How to Memorize Arabic Vocabulary Fast!
6.1 Key Vocabulary and Phrases
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Meal | وَجْبَة (ج) وَجَبَات |
| Breakfast | الْفَطُور |
| Lunch | الغَدَاء |
| Dinner | العَشَاء |
| Full, satisfied | شَبْعَان |
| Hungry | جَائِع |
| Thirsty | عَطْشَان / ظَمْآن |
| Sated (not thirsty) | رَيَّان |
| Before / After | قَبْل / بَعْد |
| Hot / Cold | سَاخِن / بَارِد |
| Fruits | فَاكِهَة (ج) فَوَاكِه |
| Vegetables | خُضَار |
| Chicken | دَجَاجَة (ج) دَجَاج |
| Fish | سَمَك |
| Bread | خُبْز |
| Meat | لَحْم (ج) لُحُوم |
| Rice | أُرْز |
| Eggs | بَيْض |
| Cheese | جُبْن |
| Yoghurt | زَبَادِي |
| Pickles | مُخَلَّل / طُرْشِي |
| Honey | عَسَل |
| Dessert | حَلْوَى |
| Falafel | فَلاَفِل / طَعْمِيَّة |
| Tea | شَاي |
| Coffee | قَهْوَة |
| Juice | عَصِير (ج) عَصَائِر |
| Milk | لَبَن / حَلِيب |
| Water | مَاء (ج) مِيَاه |
| Sugar | سُكَّر |
| Jam | مُرَبَّى |
| Butter | زُبْدَة |
| Olives | زَيْتُون |
6.2 At the Restaurant
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Restaurant | مَطْعَم |
| Waiter | نَادِل / عَامِل الْمَطْعَم |
| Menu | قَائِمَة الطَّعَام |
| Bill / Check | الحِسَاب |
| Change | البَاقِي |
| Customer | زَبُون |
| Reserved / Vacant | مَحْجُوز / خَالٍ |
| Table | مَائِدَة / طَاوِلَة |
| Glass / Cup | كُوب / فِنْجَان / كَأْس |
| Plate | طَبَق |
| Spoon / Fork / Knife | مِلْعَقَة / شَوْكَة / سِكِّين |
| Napkin | مِنْدِيل وَرَقِي |
| Water bottle | زُجَاجَة مَاء |
| Carbonated water | مِيَاه غَازِيَّة |
| Lemon juice | عَصِير لَيْمُون |
| Fried potatoes | بَطَاطِس مَقْلِيَّة |
| Kebab / Kofta | كَبَاب مَشْوِي / كُفْتَة |
| Shrimp | جَمْبَرِي |
| Soup | حَسَاء |
Translate the following using the vocabulary above:
- I want a chicken sandwich.
- I am thirsty — I want lemon juice.
- Where is the restaurant?
- The coffee is hot.
- The salad is cold.
6.3 Useful Verbs with Food
| Arabic Verb | English |
|---|---|
| يَأْكُل | He eats |
| يَتَنَاوَل | He has / consumes (a meal) |
| يَشْرَب | He drinks |
| يُرِيد | He wants |
| يُنَادِي | He calls (the waiter) |
| تَطْلُب | You order / request |
6.3.1 Example Sentences:
أَنَا أَتَنَاوَلُ الْفَطُورَ فِي السَّاعَةِ السَّابِعَةِ.
I eat breakfast at 7:00.هُوَ يَشْرَبُ الشَّايَ وَالْقَهْوَةَ.
He drinks tea and coffee.نُرِيدُ قَائِمَةَ الطَّعَامِ، مِنْ فَضْلِكَ.
We would like the menu, please.
6.4 Dialogue: At the Restaurant
Waiter: Welcome!
Customer: Thank you. Is this table free?
Waiter: No, it’s reserved. But this one is free.
Customer: Thank you. Can I see the menu?
Waiter: Of course. Here you go.
Customer: I want grilled fish and lemon juice.
Waiter: Anything else?
Customer: No, thank you.
Waiter: The bill, sir?
Customer: Yes, here you go. Keep the change.
Waiter: Thank you very much!
6.5 Verb Practice with Singular Pronouns
Let’s look at يَأْكُلُ (he eats) and يَشْرَبُ (he drinks) across the singular pronouns:
| Pronoun | Eat = يَأْكُل | Drink = يَشْرَب |
|---|---|---|
| أَنَا | آكُلُ | أَشْرَبُ |
| أَنْتَ | تَأْكُلُ | تَشْرَبُ |
| أَنْتِ | تَأْكُلِينَ | تَشْرَبِينَ |
| هُوَ | يَأْكُلُ | يَشْرَبُ |
| هِيَ | تَأْكُلُ | تَشْرَبُ |
Note: These verbs are irregular in the past tense but regular in the present.
Try answering in Arabic:
- مَاذَا تُرِيدُ لِلغَدَاءِ؟ – What do you want for lunch?
- هَلْ تُرِيدُ مَاءً أَوْ عَصِيرًا؟ – Do you want water or juice?
- أَيْنَ الْمَطْعَم؟ – Where is the restaurant?
- مَا هَذِهِ الْوَجْبَة؟ – What is this meal?
قَالَ الإِمَامُ الشَّافِعِيُّ:
“مَا شَبِعْتُ مُنْذُ سِتَّةَ عَشَرَ سَنَةً، لِأَنَّ الشِّبَعَ يُثَقِّلُ الْبَدَنَ، وَيُقَسِّي الْقَلْبَ، وَيُزِيلُ الْفِطْنَةَ، وَيَجْلِبُ النُّعَاسَ، وَيُضْعِفُ صَاحِبَهُ عَنِ الْعِبَادَةِ.”
“I have not eaten to fullness for sixteen years, because satiety burdens the body, hardens the heart, removes sharpness of mind, brings on sleep, and weakens one from worship.”
— Imām al-Shāfiʿī
6.6 Quick Review Checklist
7 الأوقات والأسعار - Times and Prices
Time and money shape much of our daily life and planning. In this unit, you’ll learn how to tell time, understand prices and currency, and talk about schedules, appointments, and travel plans—all essential skills for navigating everyday situations in Arabic.
7.1 Key Vocabulary and Phrases
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Time, appointed time | مُوْعِد / وَقْت |
| It’s 1 o’clock sharp | الوَاحِدَة تَمَامًا |
| Fifteen minutes to … | إِلَّا رُبْعًا |
| Twenty minutes to … | إِلَّا ثُلْثًا |
| Half past … | وَالنِّصْف |
| Employee | مُوَظَّف |
| Ticket | تَذْكِرَة سَفَر |
| Airline office | مَكْتَب الطَّيَرَان |
| By day × By night | نَهَارًا × لَيْلًا |
| Quarter past … | وَالرُّبْع |
| An hour - a minute - a second | سَاعَة - دَقِيقَة - ثَانِيَة |
| Airport | مَطَار |
| Plane, airplane | طَائِرَة |
| Train | قِطَار |
| Bus | حَافِلَة |
| Twenty past … | وَالثُّلْث |
| New × Old | جَدِيد × قَدِيم |
| (She) goes | تَذْهَب |
| (He) sleeps | يَنَام |
| (She) arrives at | تَصِلُ |
| In the morning × In the evening | صَبَاحًا × مَسَاءً |
| The next × The previous | التَّالِي × السَّابِق |
| Before noon × In the afternoon | قَبْلَ الظُّهْر × بَعْدَ الظُّهْر |
7.1.1 Currency & Exchange
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Late × Early | مُتَأَخِّر × مُبَكِّر |
| Exchange office | مَكْتَب الصِّرَافَة |
| Rate | سِعْر (ج) أَسْعَار |
| US dollar | دُوْلَار أَمْرِيكِي |
| Euro | يُورُو |
| Pound sterling | جُنَيْه إِنْجِلِيزِي |
| Egyptian pound | جُنَيْه مِصْرِي |
| Japanese yen | يِن يَابَانِي |
| Saudi riyal | رِيَال سَعُودِي |
| UAE dirham | دِرْهَم إِمَارَاتِي |
| Kuwaiti dinar | دِينَار كُوَيْتِي |
| Currency | عُمْلَة (ج) عُمْلَات |
| Money, cash | نُقُود |
| Turkish lira | لِيرَة تُرْكِيَّة |
| Change | نُقُود |
7.1.2 Banking & Counting
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| (He) exchanges | يُبَدِّل |
| (He) counts | يَعُدُّ |
| Bank | بَنْك / مَصْرِف |
| Central bank | البَنْك المَرْكَزِي |
| Fifty piasters | نِصْف جُنَيْه |
| Twenty-five piasters | رُبْع جُنَيْه |
7.1.3 Prayer Times
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Prayer Times | مَوَاقِيتُ الصَّلَاة |
| Adhan | الأَذَان |
| Dawn prayer | الفَجْر |
| Sunrise prayer | الشُّرُوق |
| Noon prayer | الظُّهْر |
| Afternoon prayer | العَصْر |
| Sunset prayer | المَغْرِب |
| Evening prayer | العِشَاء |
7.2 Translation Practice
- I go to the airport at one o’clock sharp.
- The bus arrives at a quarter past four.
- He exchanges money at the bank.
- The prayer times are written on the wall.
- I sleep at night and go to work in the morning.
- The price of the ticket is ten dollars.
- I want to buy twenty-five piasters of change.
7.3 Practice Conjugation
Practice conjugating these important verbs across pronouns:
- ذَهَبَ (to go)
- نَامَ (to sleep)
- وَصَلَ (to arrive)
- بَدَّلَ (to exchange)
- عَدَّ (to count)
Try writing full sentences using each form.